A recent study conducted by CAS and EASTCONN in conjunction with the CSDE has shown the benefits of the CAS Complementary Manager Program for building leaders. One of the drawbacks of the new teacher evaluation process is the amount of time required to make a worthy effort in support of teacher growth. Often it is the managerial responsibilities (bus duty, cafeteria duty, hall supervision, student discipline, etc) which consume the administrator's day. The recent study showed the positive impact that a complementary manager can have on an administrator’s ability to devote time to teacher evaluation and support. A 100% increase in such activities was possible when a complimentary manager was onsite to handle managerial functions. CAS has a group of trained complementary managers available for service in Connecticut schools. Contact Ev Lyons or Susan Kennedy at 203-250-1111 to learn more about how complementary managers can enhance your impact on teacher performance.

Back to Contents

CAS is offering a four-part community of practice series focused on mastery-based learning. Presented by author Allison Zmuda, who began as a teacher at Newtown High School and has consulted with many school districts in Connecticut and other states, the series is designed for teacher teams. District and building administrators are encouraged to attend the first and last sessions with their teachers.

Back to Contents

Nominations are now being accepted for the CAS First-Year Principal Awards for 2015-2016. These awards recognize individuals whose instructional leadership, innovative practices and managerial skills have had a positive impact on the school district in their first year of school administration. One award is given at each level: elementary, middle and high school. The deadline for submitting nominations is September 11, 2015.

Back to Contents

On May 28th, more than 1,248 students, parents and educators traveled to the Aqua Turf in Plantsville for the 31st Annual CAS Scholar-Leader Banquet. Two hundred fifty-six middle school students from around the state were recognized for their achievement in the areas of scholarship and leadership. Don’t miss keynote speaker Catherine Freeman’s message to the young leaders.

Back to Contents

Alan Bernstein, the College Board’s senior district director, is returning to CAS for another series of workshops on the redesigned PSAT and SAT. Alan will explain the substantive test changes that will be in place beginning October 2015 with the redesigned PSAT. These workshops are designed for high school principals and assistant principals, English, mathematics and guidance department chairs, as well as district superintendents and assistant superintendents.

Back to Contents

More than forty administrators attended CAS’ spring membership reception on June 3rd, enjoying a short break from the chaos and craziness that inevitably erupt this time of year. Formerly a business meeting at which we discharged the duties and responsibilities required by our Constitution, this annual event has been transformed into a relaxing, end-of-the-year gathering and awards ceremony. In her executive director’s report, Dr. Karissa Niehoff identified some of the dramatic changes that have transpired since she was hired to lead CAS-CIAC five years ago and reflected on the angst and uneasiness that have accompanied those changes.

Back to Contents

CAS will repeat last year's successful New Leaders Reception on Wednesday, August 19, from 4-6 p.m. at the CAS office in Cheshire. Come and join us for great food and beverages and, most of all, a chance to learn about YOUR ASSOCIATION and how we can support you in your new career. There is no charge to attend. We hope to see you this summer!

Back to Contents

Hiring a new assistant principal? Assuming your first position as a principal? Know of a new colleague coming into your district's leadership ranks? CAS offers the New Leaders Academy to help new administrators avoid the pitfalls that are common in the first year or two of school leadership. Come and join us for any one of six presentations and facilitated discussions: Legal Issues for New leaders; Hiring for Success; Difficult Conversations to Facilitate Change; Leading for Mastery-Based Learning; Leveraging Social Media; and, Discovering Your Leadership Style. All sessions are held at CAS and are half-day in length. Best of all, they are free to administrators from CAS-member schools!!

Back to Contents

BloomBoard is hosting a free webinar on fostering a culture of growth mindset. The webinar is appropriate for all administrators, whether current BloomBoard users or not. The 45-minute webinar designed for school and district leaders will examine:

• what it means to have a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset;
• how a growth mindset can affect the culture of teaching and learning within a school(s); and, 
• how to build a more positive community across a district.

The webinar will be held on Tuesday, June 29th at 11:00 am EDT.

Back to Contents

On the morning of Saturday, June 6, 2015, a shipping container holding 1,653 cartons of books and school supplies left its parking lot in North Haven to head slowly toward New York harbor. The cartons had been moved onto the container by volunteers from the Notre Dame West Haven track team. A few days later, the container was on its way to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where it would be unloaded and its contents delivered to designated schools in the rural reaches of the Eastern Cape. This humanitarian effort was organized under the auspices the United States-Africa Children's Fellowship (USACF), a non-profit organization which sends books, supplies and equipment from the United States to schools and children in need in Africa. Since its inception in 2003, the USACF has established a network of more than 100 schools in the US – many from Connecticut! - that send donations to schools in Zimbabwe, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa and Botswana.

Back to Contents